Building panel assembly

Abstract

This invention provides a panel assembly for buildings and the like comprising, in combination with structure supporting the assembly, an array of overlapping elongated metal panels, each panel including a lower edge, an upper flange, and a web including at least one outwardly protruding longitudinally extending stiffening rib. The stiffening rib adjacent the upper flange has an elongated longitudinally extending groove and an extended bearing portion for contacting the structure when the panel is fastened thereto. These ribs provide structural support without purlins, sheathing, or the like. A plurality of fasteners for attaching the panel assembly to the structure pierce the extended bearing portion hold the bearing portion in contact with the structure so that when panels are affixed to the structure with the lower edge of one panel overlapping the upper flange of another panel, the groove forms a space between overlapping panels to prevent water from flowing around the stiffening rib adjacent the upper flange.

We claim: 
     
       1. A panel assembly for buildings and the like comprising in combination with structure supporting the assembly, an array of elongated metal panels affixed directly to rafters in the support structure, each panel including a lower edge, an upper flange, and a web including (1) at least one outwardly protruding longitudinally extending stiffening rib, the stiffening rib adjacent the upper flange having an elongated longitudinally extending groove; and (2) an extended bearing portion for contacting the structure when the panel is fastened thereto,   a plurality of fasteners for attaching the panel assembly to the structure which pierce the extended bearing portion and hold the bearing portion in contact with the structure so that when panels are affixed to the structure with the lower edge of one panel overlapping the upper flange of another panel, the groove forms a space between overlapping panels to prevent water from flowing around the stiffening rib adjacent the upper flange, and   first and second flashings covering an eave defined by downward ends of a plurality of rafters included in the structure supporting the assembly, each flashing having a bend conforming the flashing to the eave, and an outwardly extending recurved lip at an edge of the first and second flashings, wherein the array of elongated metal panels are affixed directly to rafters in the support structure, without the need for sheathing or longitudinally extending purlins, and that braces the rafters or truss top chords and transfers horizontal loads such as wind and the like to the endwalls and sidewalls of the building by diaphragm action.   
     
     
       2. A panel assembly as defined in claim 1, additionally including a ridge flashing having first and second legs forming an angle therebetween which conforms to an apex defined by a plurality of opposed roof rafters. 
     
     
       3. A roof panel assembly for buildings and the like, comprising in combination: a plurality of spaced, substantially parallel opposed and angled rafters, the opposed and angled rafters defining an apex and a pair of eaves on respective sides of a building;   an array of overlapping elongated metal panels, each panel including a lower edge, an upper flange, and a web including (1) at least one outwardly protruding longitudinally extending stiffening rib, the stiffening rib adjacent the upper flange having an elongated longitudinally extending groove; and (2) an extended bearing portion for contacting the structure when the panel is fastened thereto;   a plurality of fasteners for attaching the panel assembly to the structure which pierce the extended bearing portion and hold the bearing portion in contact with the structure so that when panels are affixed to the structure with the lower edge of one panel overlapping the upper flange of another panel, the groove forms a space between overlapping panels to prevent water from flowing around the stiffening rib adjacent the upper flange; and   first and second flashings for covering one of the pair of eaves, each flashing fastened to base ends of the rafters adjacent the eave and having a bend to conform to the eave.   
     
     
       4. A panel assembly as defined in claim 3, additionally including a ridge flashing member having first and second legs forming an angle therebetween conforming to apex defined by the plurality of roof rafters, an outer edge of the first and second legs having a recurved lip. 
     
     
       5. A roof assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein the ridge flashing is fastened on each side by a fastener penetrating through overlapping portions of the first and second legs and opposed upper flanges of roof panels adjacent said apex.